Mass setting Choral Commission Application
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SUMMARY
Grace Church on the Hill invites submissions for a commissioned mass setting for SATB choir with organ accompaniment to celebrate our 150th anniversary as a parish. The work will commemorate our Music Ministry and pay tribute to this cornerstone of our worship here at Grace. Our intention is that this mass setting can be used regularly on Sunday mornings for generations to come.
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This program is funded in part by the Douglas Cowling Bursary and the generous donation of Mary-Elizabeth Flynn.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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Full mass setting (more information on this below), in collaboration with the music team at Grace Church on- the-Hill, to be completed by August 31, 2024.
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Consultation with Music Director Sarah Hicks and Organist Stéphanie Gouin to more intimately understand our context and needs.
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Grace 150 Celebrations (potential but not a requirement):
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Premiere of the work at October 6, 2024 10:00 AM service
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Clinic/Masterclass Presentation at our Fall Choral Symposium November 16 and 17, 2024
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EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MASS SETTING
We are commissioning a mass setting to be used in ordinary time. The piece must be appropriate in length for use within the liturgy (see below parameters):
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Outline of the Mass setting (timing is approximate):
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For SATB choir with Organ accompaniment.
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Difficulty should be intermediate - suitable for choirs with strong reading ability and musicality.
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Should take into consideration our choir, organ and acoustic.
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Some 8 part divisi would be fine but the majority should be four part divisi.
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Suitable for use during ordinary time and the seasons of Epiphany and Pentecost.
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Kyrie: 1.25-1.5 min
Gloria: 3-4 min
Sanctus: 2-2.5 min
Benedictus: 1.5-2 min
Agnus Dei: 1.5-2 min
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Please see attached a few scores of mass settings that are similar in difficulty, length and tone as a reference.
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Herbert Howells Collegium Regale Mass Setting
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Francis Jackson Mass setting
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APPLICATION
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To apply, submit the following by April 15, 2024 to music@gracechurchonthehill.ca
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Cover Letter: Outline the proposed work and your describe your creative approach. Please speak to your familiarity with liturgical composition and composing for SATB choir with organ accompaniment.
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Bio: Include a brief biography providing insights into your artistic background.
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CV: Attach a current curriculum vitae.
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Music Samples: Include two choral compositions in WAV, MP3, or provide a streaming link. One piece should be a choral piece with organ accompaniment (if possible).
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Scores: Attach PDF scores of your submitted choral compositions.
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Website, social media link
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DEADLINE DATES April 15, 11:59pm EST
COMMISSION AMOUNT $5,000 CAD
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GRACE CHURCH ON-THE-HILL is a historic midtown Toronto church - now well into our ‘second century.’ We welcome seekers, singles, couples, families, doubters, as well as the devout. That’s our history. God’s church is broadly inclusive. Our mission is to extend God’s love, sharing it within and beyond our community of faith. We pursue our mission through hospitality and welcome, through outreach and the promotion of justice, through prayer and proclamation, ongoing Christian Formation, and through worship and music. Music ministry is a central and defining feature of Grace Church. Since its inception, the program has adhered to a classical British choral tradition from the Anglican canon. Our repertoire is mainly comprised of sacred choral music spanning from renaissance polyphony to contemporary choral music. We also occasionally integrate other idioms including Gospel and Jazz. We are also committed to performing music composed by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and Women composers whose work has historically been under represented in the sacred choral canon.
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